Re: WEEK 11: Maine vs. Massachusetts at Fenway

Football at Fenway will be ‘kind of surreal’ for UMaine players, coachesThe Black Bears play UMass at Fenway Park on Saturday as part of the Fenway Gridiron Series

...“It’s going to be a fun experience,” said Belcher, a junior tight end for the Black Bears. “To be on that field … it’s going to be really cool. It’s something that’s kind of surreal.”

The game is part of the 2017 Fenway Gridiron Series, a slate of three college games that also features Brown playing Dartmouth (on Friday night) and Connecticut playing Boston College on Nov. 18. In addition, three Thanksgiving Day high school rivalry games will be held at Fenway.

“There’s a rich history of football at Fenway Park, back to the days when the ballpark first opened and they held high school games here,” said Mark Lev, the managing director of Fenway Sports Management, a sister company of the Red Sox that brings non-baseball events to the ballpark. “We’d like to resurrect the great football legacy at Fenway Park. We’re hoping this becomes a regular occurrence, whether that’s every year or every other year.”

Fenway Park was the home of the Boston Patriots from 1963-68. But after the Patriots left, football didn’t return to Fenway until 2015, when Boston College played Notre Dame and several Thanksgiving Day high school games were played. Fenway Park has also hosted ice hockey games (the Black Bears have played there three times, winning each game), soccer, skiing and hurling.

Re: WEEK 11: Maine vs. Massachusetts at Fenway

Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2017 5:54 am

by Tom Nolette

PPH preview: TV: NESNPlusKICKOFF: 4 p.m. Saturday

OUTLOOK: This is an interesting matchup for the Black Bears. UMass has a strong passing game, but Maine’s pass defense (ranked second in the CAA with 180.8 yards per game) has been at its best lately, holding opponents under 130 yards in each of its last three games. On offense, Maine’s strength is its running game, which matches up well with the Minutemen’s shaky run defense. But in any game between an FCS team (Maine) and an FBS team (Massachusetts), depth often comes into play – especially late in the game. If Maine is going to win, it needs to jump out to an early lead and then unleash its pass rush.

OF NOTE: Maine will be without junior WR Micah Wright, who suffered a season-ending knee injury against Delaware. RT Cody Levy, who suffered a back injury three weeks ago, could be a game-time decision. … UMass senior FB Andrew Libby is from Saco and played at Thornton Academy. He’s the Minutemen’s primary holder on kicks and is a special-teams standout on kickoff and punt coverage and returns. … Massachusetts lost its first six games by an average of 6.3 points. After winning two in a row, the Minutemen lost 34-23 to No. 21 Mississippi State last week.

Re: WEEK 11: Maine vs. Massachusetts at Fenway

Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2017 9:45 am

by Muchups

Anyone know if there is a way to livestream the game? Is there a NESN stream?

The "watch" link from the UMaine site takes you to the game on the UMass Sports Network site. However, when you click the link it says its blocked because its being televised on NESN.

Re: WEEK 11: Maine vs. Massachusetts at Fenway

Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2017 8:54 pm

by Blind Zebra

UMass gave Maine every chance to win this game. Maine offense couldn't execute with the game on the line. Way too many drive killing penalties, dropped balls and errant throws. Reed dropped 2 TDs along with at least two other balls at key moments in the game. Ferguson made some terrific throws and some that were way off the mark. Not enough consistency. The defensive line and linebacker corps my hat is off to them. An excellent hard fought game in the trenches. Maine just couldn't cover 23 on the outside. I am really excited about this defense. Great energy and passion. Great special teams play as well. The officials... the phrase train wreck comes to mind. Terrible calls against both teams throughout the game.

Re: WEEK 11: Maine vs. Massachusetts at Fenway

Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2017 4:26 am

by MBRer

Maine football falls to UMass at Fenway

...Ford threw three touchdown passes in the first quarter to lead the Minutemen to a 21-7 lead. Then he broke a third-quarter tie with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Isabella. The Massachusetts defense then got into it as Lee Moses returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown that would give the Minutemen a 37-24 lead going into the fourth.

The loss was Maine’s second in a row, dropping the Black Bears to 4-5 overall. Massachusetts improved to 3-7.

Ford completed 21 of 39 passes for 355 yards and the four touchdowns. Marquis Young rushed for 126 yards and scored a clinching 33-yard touchdown run with 1:57 remaining.

Josh Mack led Maine with 110 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Chris Ferguson threw for 232 yards but was only 16 for 41 with two interceptions.

The Black Bears were hurt by penalties (12 for 124 yards) and an inability to convert on third down. They were 1 for 13 on third down.

Ford-Isabella combo leads UMass football past Maine 44-31...“It was a good win for us, no question about it. I know what it is like to be on the other side,” Massachusetts head coach Mark Whipple said.

“I give credit to Maine, they played hard and they were more physical than we were up front. Especially on offense, we felt we could match up with our skill on both sides, and then they didn’t quit they came back and I knew they would,” he added. “I was really concerned before the game because the energy you really need to compete with an SEC team on a trip had me concerned all week, since many missed practiced and were sick. We are happy for our guys.”